Maoist Arrested in Odisha: A Closer Look at the Encounter

Maoist Captured Following Police Encounter in Koraput

Bhubaneswar: Authorities in Odisha's Koraput district apprehended a Maoist during a gunfight with police, as reported on Thursday. The individual has been identified as Kunjam Hidma, hailing from the Bijepur region of Chhattisgarh.

According to Koraput Superintendent of Police Rohit Verma, the arrest occurred within the dense Petaguda forest during the confrontation.

The police operation was initiated following intelligence reports about the presence of a group of CPI (Maoist) members in the forested area near Petguda. A special team from the district police, supported by the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and led by SDPO Parth Kashyap, commenced the operation on the night of May 28.

In the early hours of Thursday, the DVF team spotted a group of Maoists camped on a hillside. As they attempted to encircle the group, the Maoists opened fire and retreated into the forest. The DVF team responded with controlled fire for self-defense. During the search that followed, one Maoist was captured while trying to conceal himself in nearby bushes.

The police recovered a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, from the detained Maoist.

Hidma, who served as an Area Committee Member (ACM) for the outlawed group, is reportedly linked to seven significant violent incidents across the region, as stated by the SP.

The SP further noted, "Kunjam Hidma is implicated in various anti-government and anti-national activities across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, which will be investigated further."